Chapter 13: The “Truth”

"You're right Major Collins, I'm not Captain McKenzie," Just like that Billy stood up sharply, throwing the shrimp from his shoulders. This caused her to topple towards the ground, but she managed to twist her body and land on her feet. Darius would have been impressed if she hadn't placed her rifle to his throat.

"I mean, I didn't not expect this kind of reaction."

"Who are you, why are you here, what did you come for, where did you come from, why do you have McKenzie's suit of armor, when did you get it, and how did you get it from him?"

"That's a lot of questions to just spitfire on somebody." Darius decided to break the ice with a small joke. "Seems like you know your five W's, but I'm sorry to say that I can't answer most of these questions. In fact, you weren't supposed to stop me here at all." Darius was ready to start his explanation, but a crushing feeling in his shoulder stopped him from any further speech.

"The captain. Where is he?" Billy stood at his full height, no longer slouching, and Darius could no longer feel any of the innocence Billy showed before. His blood red eyes bore into Darius's psyche, leaving him with nothing but a chill. Billy moved close to Darius and raised a fist to his face. Darius hadn't noticed until now, but Billy didn't carry any weapons. Instead, his hands were wrapped in thick, worn leather gloves that had dented metal over the knuckles.

"Probably wear from usage."

Billy's fist was as large, if not larger, than Darius's own head. Instinctively, he knew that it would come flying towards his face if Darius did not give Billy a satisfactory answer.

"Tell us where McKenzie is!" Claire shouted. At this point Darius had forgotten she was even there, much more preoccupied with the giant in front of him. He hoped what he said next wasn't going to get him killed.

"I-I can't tell you-" The air hissed as a giant object penetrated the wall besides Darius's face. Right where Claire had kicked earlier, really put things into perspective.

"I'd like to consider myself a nice guy. I had hoped that I would never have to take another life after the captain gave me another chance, so let me ask you one more time. WHERE IS THE CAPTAIN?!"

"Okay maybe some good news before I give any more bad news," Darius reasoned. "Listen, listen! I don't mean that Captain McKenzie is in any danger, I just mean that he's on a mission, a secret one at that."

Claire's rifle made a strange clicking sound. Something told Darius that this was not to his benefit. "Now tell me, why should we believe you?" she asked.

"Listen Major Collins, Lieutenant. Captain McKenzie is an exemplary soldier; his becoming a captain in only two years proves this fact. So, he was sent on a mission that only he could accomplish."

"You didn't answer my question."

Darius internally smiled, "You can trust my words because he was sent on a mission regarding Acumenos, and I'm a former soldier of Shining Twilight."

Billy lowered his fist in shock and jumped away, leaving Claire to stagger backwards, barely maintaining her hold on her rifle, "No way! Then why are you here?!" she questioned.

"Good question. One that I'll have to think of an answer to," Darius thought, "I'm not you're enemy. I won't cause you any harm and you will not get the Sickness, so please listen to what I have to say. Shining Twilight is back; they're planning another invasion. Their first target… well I think you could take a guess for yourself."

Shining Twilight, a mercenary group totaling less than 300 soldiers, suddenly arrived in Acumenos and started a war with them around seven years ago in the year 862. Darius never had the chance to speak with any of their members, having only met them on the battlefield.

Even with just 300 soldiers, they managed to deal damage and hold out against an army numbering more than 3,000. Eventually, Acumenos's numbers and abilities grew to be too much for Shining Twilight, and the war seemed to be coming to an end after just a year, but then tragedy struck.

The successful assassination of Lady Chancellor Mariah of Acumenos. An influx of cases of the Sickness, a disease that plagued those who came in too much contact with soldiers from Shining Twilight. One that caused convulsions, vomiting, shock, and a change in eye color for a time. Morale was greatly depleted. The war continued for what felt like forever, but one day ended with the literal fall of Grayson Castle; destroying what was left of the royal family along with it.

No one really knew why Shining Twilight invaded, for they left a soon as Grayson Castle was destroyed. Without a strong head of state and a withering government, Acumenos was left free to be taken in by whatever power was greatest at the time, its criminals.

Admittedly, Acumenos always had a large problem with its criminal underground, one that was managed by Acumenos's former overwhelming force. Now, soldiers left without a paycheck looked for other sources of income, most coming from less than credible places. Those who tried to maintain order where left buried in the ground or sinking into the sea. Then there were those like Darius who sought asylum in places like…

"S-Sheildon?" choked Billy.

Claire jumped to slap Billy in the back of the head, "Yes, obviously you oaf, that's what he's saying, but why is he saying it? Rather why did he turn on Shining Twilight?" Billy looked at his superior confused, it would probably take him a few minutes before he got what she was saying. A few minutes Darius didn't want to spend waiting.

"I didn't defect recently; it was three years ago. The reason might sound a bit cliché, but it was a woman. I found myself injured, clinging to what little life left I had. A woman, my wife and a native to Sheildon, saved my life. If it hadn't been for her, I wouldn't be here today."

Darius turned his back while taking off his armor. Claire and Billy were on guard, but he didn't seem to be doing anything suspicious. Once the armor was gone, he showed them his back. On it were dozens of scars, each one detailing a different story a different battle. Though in reality there were gained from an accident from his childhood.

"I thought you might like a little proof. The man I was while I laid dying no longer exist, and who I am now is someone else… Darius. I owe her everything I am, so I will do everything to protect the home she loves so dearly. Even if it means fighting against the people, I once called comrades."

Billy looked like he was going to break into tears and even Claire only kept a loose hold on her weapon. A good performance if nothing else, "Why McKenzie? Why did you need him?" she asked.

"You don't know Shining Twilight like I do. What they can do, their capabilities… their weaknesses, but who would trust a former soldier from Shining Twilight. If I tried to talk to the wrong person, I'd end up locked away forever. I first met Captain McKenzie not long ago at a bar." Both noticeably raised an eyebrow, almost suggesting that this much was obvious.

"At first, he seemed little more than an airheaded drunk, but sometimes he would tell stories. Stories of grand adventures and triumph. Eventually, I decided to talk to him, and he was quite the wonderful man. His strength, the way his comrades spoke about him, and most importantly his sense of justice pushed me to ask for his help. Color me surprised when he said yes."

"He never told me about any of this, and you are impersonating him! That's illegal, there's no way he would have just done that. Not without at least telling one of us," Claire pushed. Billy nodded his head in agreement.

"Must be a close-knit group," Darius thought. "It wasn't him; it was His Majesty or at least one of his aids that requested we keep this whole affair under wraps. That was in service of our plans."

The two of them were deeply engrossed in Darius's story, but he was starting to feel the wear of continually thinking up lies. Darius's head was starting to hurt, and he knew that too many lies tended to eventually bite back. It was time to hurry this along.

"Unsurprisingly, the Lord Chancellor is wary of me, so I had to improvise a plan where McKenzie could spy on Shining Twilight, while the Lord Chancellor could keep an eye on me, as collateral. Then we got it. McKenzie and I could impersonate each other. With just a bit of makeup, we look like twins, so it could work. Regrettably, you two and that girl have made me. Shining Twilight has spies everywhere, so I hope McKenzie isn't compromised. Only time will tell."

Both of their eyes went big when they realized their mistake. Because of them, their friend could be in grave danger. Claire dropped her gun and held onto her face while Billy fell to his knees.

"I-Is there something we can do, some way we can help!" Claire panicked, but Darius shook his head.

"The best we could do is going about our day normally and telling no one about me. You're in this just as much as I am now; you carry this secret to your grave regardless of how hard it seems."

Maybe it was the orders that brought her back, but Claire set out to work immediately, "Billy!"

"Yes, ma'am!"

"Get your act together we have to stay strong for McKenzie… you and me."

"Yes, ma'am!" Billy yelled while standing back up resolutely.

Darius smiled, ready to leave. "With that finished I'll me on my-"

Suddenly the other woman from before rushed in, out of breath. "Major, Billy... Why… do… you… always have to run… so fast! Did you catch him?" She turned to see Darius, who had already placed his helmet and shirt back on. He had also stood in front of the Grande Verde to obscure her view of it.

"Hey, captain!" Selena yelled.

"She has more sense than the other two, if she saw the Grande Verde, she might try to question it. I don't want to be here another hour."

"Oh, uh, hey." Darius weakly responded. He didn't know if he could retell the story from before with any real accuracy. Luckily it seemed he wouldn't have to.

"Sorry lieutenant, it looks like the captain is too busy and doesn't have any time to talk," Claire interrupted.

"Thank you, shrimp! Thank you so much!"

"But I though you didn't care what he had to do Major, weren't you going to rip off his arms and tie his legs to a rock before-" Claire jumped to cover her sister's mouth while blushing.

"Forget all that Serena, we are leaving!" Claire said before quickly walking away followed closely by Billy. Serena walked behind them but stopped and took off her helmet. She looked similar to her sister, that pale skin, green eyes, freckles all around her face, and ginger hair but put into a ponytail.

She winked at Darius and warmly smiled, "See you later tonight, Johnsie."